Regulating means



Feb. 7, 1933.

REGULATING MEANS ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1930 L 2% Mi e n QLM a7 w I 4 I E M W Q mm In IR 1 @w &. m Lip l a & NM m A mm JnW w Feb;7,1933.

- B. M. LEECE ET AL. 1,896,547

'REGULATING MEANS F11ed ,Ju1 "21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 7,1933 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE BENNETT 11. men, or orinmann; am) DALEa. com, or CLEVELAND nnr'on'r's, 01110,

assronoas 'ro THE LEECE-NEVILLE comramr, or CLEVELAND, omo,'a consona-TION OF OHIO nneunamo rams Application filed July 81, 1930. Serial K0.489,578.

This invention relates to regulators, and more particularly to novelmeans for regu lating the voltage of generators which are operated undervarying conditions of load and speed, such as generators which are.

'pr uced upon a light-sensitive surface by changes in the lightintensity incident to fluctuations occurring in the generated volta e.

A further object of our invention is to provide voltage regulation forvariable speed generators in which the excitation of t e generator fieldis controlled by a photoelectric cell.

The invention maybe further briefly sum-- marized as consisting'incertain novel combinatio'nsand arrangements of lparts' hereinafterjdescribed and particular the'ap ended claims. 1

Int e accompanying sheets of drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticview showing a generator system embodying theregulating means of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing another generating system"embodying our re ulating means; I

ig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing any set out in other generatingsystem employing "our reg-- ulatingdevice; a I I Fig.4 showsdiagrammatically still another generating system using our regulatingdevice' Fig, 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a form ofmagnetically"actuatedresistance,

element which may be used to vary the field excitation in the,generating systems employing our regulating device: and

Fig. (l is a diagrammatic view showing anothcr'form of magneticallyactuated resist- .thereof connected to the armature '16 of the timeelement for varying the field excitation in generating systems employingour regulating means. In a plying our invention to the regulation 0 thevoltages generated in various generating systems, we control theexcitation of the generator field by the effect produced ugon alight-sensitive oi photo-active surface y changes in light intensitywhich are incident to fluctuations in' the voltage generated. Thislight-sensitive surface is preferably an electrode of a photo-electriccell, while the source of the li ht which illaminates this photo-activeeectrode is a lamp which is connected to receive energy from thegenerator so that the intensity of the light emitted is dependent uponthe voltage generated.

The generating systems illustrated diaammatically in the drawings areparticuarl suitable for use on motor vehic1es,'but it s ould beunderstood that our regulating means is not limited to use withvehicular generating systems, but may be used for regulatin generatedvoltages wherever ex- -.tremely c ose and reliable regulation isdesired.

" In the system illustrated in Fig. 1, we have shown a generator 10'ofthe three-brush type having a commutatorll from which current isdelivered by the brushes 12 which cooperate therewith. The currentdelivered by the brushes may be used for charging the storage battery13, for'general lighting purposes, for heating the filaments of vacuumtubes, or for any other desired purpose. The generator is provided witha suitable field winding 14 having one terminal thereof connected to thethird brush 15, and the other terminal electromagnet 17.

For varying the excitation of the generator field to thereby control thevoltage generated, we provide a resistance 18 which 18 adapted to ealternately short-circuited and then connected in series with the fieldwinding 14 andthus vary the ampere turns of the field winding. Foraltering theefi'eet of the resistanco 18 upon the field circuit. weconnect the terminals of this resistance to the rela- 100 ary-contact 20by t e action of the tension spring 22. The engagement of contact member19 with contact member 20 short-circuits the'resistance 18, and uponmovement of the contact member 19 out of enga ement with the contactmember 20, the-resistance 18 isconnected in series with the fieldwinding. For separating the contacts so as to decrease the fie dstrength and thus bring about a decrease in the generated voltage theelectromagnet is provided with a suitable winding 23, which, whenenergized as a result of an increase in the generated voltage, moves thearmature 16 against the action of the spring For controlling the supplyof energizing current to the winding 23 of the electromagnet, we employa thermionic valve 24 which amplifies the effect roduced upon thephotoelectric cell 25 by c anges in the intensity of the light emittedby he lamp 26 which receives energy from the enerator 10, so that, asthe intensity of the li t emitted by lamp 26 varies in response to c an"es in the generated voltage, corresponding fl uctuations will ocour inthe current flowing throu h the coil 23 and cause the armature of the electroma net to vibrate. The thermionic valve whic we employ may be ofany suitable design or construction, and in this instance we have showna three-element vacuum tube having one terminal of the filament 27thereof connected to the negative terminal of the battery 28, and havingthe plate 29 thereof connected to the positive terminal of the batterythe coil 23, thus producing a cir- 28 throu h %1 includes filament 27,plate 29, coil cuit whic 23 and battery 28. The filament may be heatedby current supplied thereto by the battery 30, andthe heating of thefilament may be controlled by means of the variable resistance 31.

The heatin of the filament of the vacuum tube'causes e ectrons to passfrom the filament to the positively charged plate 29, thus establishin aflow of current through the circuit whi h includes the coil 23 and thebattery 28. For varying this flow of current through the vacuum tube inresponse to changes occurring in the voltage output of the generator, weconnect the grid 82 of the vacuum tube with the electrode 83 of thephoto-electric cell 25. This photo-electric cell may be of any suitableform of construction', such as that herein illustrated, in which theelectrode 33 is formed of light-sensitive or hoto-active material. Thishoto-active ma rialforms the cathode of t e cell,'and should be arrangedso that it can be illuminated by light admitted through the windowportion 34 of the device. The plate 35 forms the anode of thephoto-electric cell and is connected to the positive terminal of thebattery 28 so that this plate is normally positivecharged. A battery 36is arranged with the negative terminal thereof connected to thephoto-active electrode 33 of the photo electric cell so that thiselectrode is normal- -ly charged negatively.

The lamp 26, which provides the source of light, is connected in circuitwith-the genorator 10, preferably in parallel with the battery 13 sothat fluctuations in the voltage enerated produce corres ondingfluctuations in the intensity of the ight emitted by this la ng. Thelamp is arran ed .opposite the win ow portion 34 of the p oto-electriccell so that the light emitted by the lamp can pass through the windowand illuminate the electrode 33. a

' The characteristics of the photo-active electrode 33 are such that,when this electrode is illuminated, negative electrons are given off andpass to the positively charged plate 35 at a rate which is substantiallyproportional to the intensity of the illumination. \Vhen the intensityof illumination increases, this flow of electrons away from theelectrode 33 also increases and reduces its charge of negativeelectricity. The batte tends to maintain the electro e 33in a ne ativelvcharged state, and when the intensity of illumination decreases the flowof electrons also decreases and the battery restores the negativecondition of the electrode.

Changes in the intensity of illumination of the electrode 33 thus causechanges in its state of charge, and these changes are transmitted tothe" grid 32 of the vacuum tube andcontrol the flow of currenttherethrough by, their 105 influence upon the flow of electrons from thefilament32 to the plate 29.

' It will now be readily understood that as the terminal voltage of theenerator in-.

creases the intensity of the lig t emitted b the lamp 26 iscorrespondingly increase -and,--likewise, the intensity of illuminationof the electrode 33 of the photo-electric cell is also increased. Asaresult of the increase in the intensity of illumination of thiselectrode, negative electrons leave the electrode at a more rapid rateand reduce its electrical charge or potential to a less negative state.This change in potential of the electrode 33 is transmitted to the grid32 of the vacuum tube, and thus as the electrode 33 becomes lessnegative when exposed to the increased -illumination from the lamp 26,the potential of the grid also becomes less negative. The

reduction in the negative charge on the grid accelerates the flow ofelectrons from the heated filament 27 to the plate 29 and thus the flowof current through the winding 23 of the electromagnet" is increased 'uion an increase in the terminal voltage of t e gen- 36, however,

orator. J-When the fiow .of current through the coil 23 liasi1icreasedsufiiciently, the armature 16 is attracted against thetension of thesprin '22, thereby moving the contact 19 away f iom-thecontact 20 andplacing the resistance'18 in series with the fie d winding 14. When theterminal voltage of the enerator is low,. the illumination produce bythe lamp 26-is,corre s ondingly low, and the negative potential 0'theelectrode 33 and of the grid 32, having been restored by. .thebattery 36, is correspondingly high. The effect of the high ne ativepotential of the grid 32 is to retard t e flow of electrons to the plate29 and 'thusdecrease the flow of current'througli the coil 23 of theelectromagnet. The decreased flow of current through this coil permitsthe contact 19 to be moved into engagement with the contact 20 by thetensionof the spring 22. The engagement of the contact 19 with thecontact 20 short-circuits the resistance 18, thus increasing the ampereturns of the field windin 14 and the corresponding increase in the eldexcitation causesthe terminal voltage of the generator to'be increased.It will be understood, of course, that the fluctuations in the terminalvoltage of the generator which we have described may take place at avery rapid rate so that the opening and closing of the contact 19 willbe in the nature of vibratory movement.

'" plied .in substantiall visible illumination. I

W'hile we have not mentioned any particular characteristics for the lamp26, we con which will roduce owever,if desired,the sensitiveness of theregulator may be greatly increased by employing lamps which will emitlight rays havin other characteristics, such as ultra-violet orinfra-red rays.

InFig. 20f the drawings we have shown, dia ammatically, a generatingsystem which em odies the principle of our invention apthe same manneras already described in etail in connection with template using a lamthe system illustrated in Fig. 1. The system of Fig.i'2,however,embodies an alternating current-generator 40 having a suitable fieldwinding 41' which 'is adapted .to be energized by currentsupplied'thereto from thebrushes 42 of thee'xciter unit 43. The exciteris provided with a suitable'field winding 44 having one terminalthereo'f connected to'one of the brushes 42while the other terminal "isarranged for adjustable connection with the variable resistance 45.

' Thegen'erator 40Iis of the alternating current type and is providedwith suitable slip era-' tor'i s delivered. A-lam'p' 47 of 'suitabefchar-- rin '46'fro'n'i which the output of theacteristics,'*isconn'ected toithe sli rings 46 so --that--the.intensit'yof the'illumination of the lamp will'vary'inresponse'to changes intheqterminal voltage of the nerator. By means of a photo-electric ca 48,the variations 'in the intensity of .the illumination emitted from-thelamp 47 are impressed upon the thermionic valve 49 in such a way as toincrease the flow of energizing current through the coil50 of theelectromagnet 51 upon an increase in generated ,voltage, and to decreasetheflow of current throughthis windin 'upon a' decrease in generatedvoltage. hen the flow of current throu h the winding 50 .has beenincreased suffic ently, the armature 52 of the electroma net isattracted against the action of t e tension spring 53 to move thecontact 54 awa from t e contact 55 and thus place the resistance inseries with the field winding 44. Upon a decrease in .the generatedvoltage the contacts 54 and 55 are closed by the spring 53 as a resultof the flow .of current through the winding being decreased, thusshortcircuiting t e resistance 45 and increasing the excitation of thefield 44, and in turn increasing the excitation of the field 41.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, we have shown, diagrammatically, a generatingsystem which is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 1 with theexception that the generator employed in this system is a double voltageenerator havin a commutator 56 from w ich current is de ivered throughthe brushes 57 at a low voltage which is suitable for battery charging,ighting pur oses, and other uses, and a commutator 58 rom which hi hvoltage current. is delivered through t e brushes 59 for use in thetransmission of radio signals and other purposes. In this system, a lamp60, of suitable characteristics, is connected in circuit with the lowvolta e brushes 57 so that the intensity of the lig t emitted by thislamp will respond to changes m the terminal voltage of the generator.For regulating the voltage of the generator, the exc tation of the fieldwinding 61 is varied in response the changes in the intensity of thelight emitted by the lamp 60. For varymg the excitation of the generatorfield, we emplo the circuits and means which we have alrea y describedin detail in connection with Fig. 1 and which include a photo-electriccell 62 and a thermionic valve 63. The valve 63 controls-the flowpf ener'zing current supplied totli'e w ndin 640 the electromagnet 65 inresponse to e eflect produced upon the photo-electric cell by thechanges in the intensity of the light emitted by the lamp 60. Anincrease-in the supply of energizing current to winding 64'inres nse toan increase in .the intensity-the light emitted by the --lamp 60 movesthe armature 66 against the tension of the-spring 67-, thereby movingthe contact 68 out of engagement with the contact 69 and thus lacing theresistance 70 in series with the tie d winding 61'to reduce the ampereturns of this winding. A decrees in generated voltage causes a decreaseiii the was light emittedb the lamp which results in a closing of tecontacts (38 and (i9 winch short-circuit the resistance and increasesthe excitation of the field 61. H

In Fig. 4 of the drawings wehave shown dia ammatically anothereneratin'g system which embodies our re u ating means and which issubstantially i entical with that -lllustrated in Fig. 3 except that oneof the windings of the double voltage generator is adapted todeliversingle phase alternating current from the slip rings 76. Thealternating current delivered by the generator may be used for anydesired purpose, and. as herein illustrated, may be su plied to theprimary windingZZ-pf the'trans ormer 78.

Fora'ejffi'lating the volta e of the generator the excitation of thefield windin 79 is varied in response to the intensity of illuminationemitted by the lamp 80 which is connected in circuit with the commutator81 and brushes 82 associated with the direct current winding of thegenerator. The excitation of the Held 79 is varied in response to theintensity of light emitted from the lamp 80 by the use of aphoto-electric cell 83 and a thermionic valve 84 which control thesupply of energizing current to the winding 85 of the electromagnet 86.The contacts 87 and 88 of the electromagnet are opened and closed inresponse to fluctuations occurring in the current sup-.

plied to the winding 85, and alternately connect the resistance 89 inseries and then short-circuit it with respect to the field windin g ofthe generator.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings we have shown a form of variable resistancewhich may be used in varying the'excitation of the field winding of agenerator to'regulate the generated voltage. This resistance comprisesapile. 90 composed of a series of movable contacts or conducting members91. These contacts are held in assembled-- relation by the rod 92 which.passes therethrough, and bly movement of this rod the compression of te contacts is varied substantially in proportion to the force with whichthe pile is presse'dagainst-the' spring 93. The pile is Edit ted to beconnected in series with the e the-conductors 94 and 95 so that byvariation of the compression of the contact members the resistance ofthe pile and of the field.

circuit isvaried in a well known manner.

For varying the. compression of the contact members of the pile, weutilize the rod 92 as a core for the electromagnct winding 96. -When thefiow vof energizing current through the winding 96 is varied. as bymeans.

of the light responsive regulating means described in detail. inconnection with Fig. 1, the rod 92 ismovcd to compress or release thecontactmembers of the pile and thus increase or decrcase'the excitationof the generator field.

winding of the generator by means of In Fig. 6 of the drawings we haveshown another form of variable re'sistance'for use in controlling thefield excitation and thereby re ulating the voltage of a generator. Inthis arrangement changes in'the flow of energizing current through thewinding 97 of the electromagnet 98, produced by light res mnsiveregulating means such as that disclosed in detail in connection withFig. 1, cause the armature 99' tobemoved relative to the winding.'Movement of the armature 99 causes the arm 100 to'be swung about itspivot 101 to move the contact member 102 with respect to the contacts103, thereby increasing or decreasing the amount of the resistance 104which is connected in the field circuit; I

It will now be readily seen that the voltage of various generatingsystems, such as those which we have disclosed, may be regulated byvarying the excitation of the generator field in response tofluctuations in the intensity of light produced by changes in thegenerated voltage. By the use of our'regulating system, the voltage ofvarious aerating systems may be accurately and re iably regulated withinremarkably close limits.

While we have illustrated and described our invention in a detailedmanner, it should be understood, however, thatwe do' not propose tolimit ourselves to the precise details and arrangements shown anddescribed, but regard our invention as including such changes andmodifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

lHaving thus described our invention, we c mm:

1. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with a' generator having a radiated for varying theexcitation of'the generator field.

' 2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with agenerator having a ficl d circuit, of a regulator comprising a lamp'for'emitting radiant energy at a variable rate which is dependent uponthe voltage of the generator. and means including a photoelectric cellfor varying the excitation of the generator ficld in response to changesin the cmissonof energy by saidlamp. 3. In'apparatus of thecharacter'described, the combination with agenerator-haying a li'cldcircuit, of a regulator comprising a lamp lighted bysaidgeneratorwhereby fluctuations in the voltage generated produce corrvqmmlinz.fluctuations in the-intensity ofthe light emitted by said lamp. .andmeans including a photo-electric cell for varying the excitation of theenerator field in response to variation in t e intensity of the lightemitted by said lamp.

4. The combination with a generator having a field circuit, of aresistance adapted to be connected into said field circuit, andregulating means for short-eircuiting said resistance comprising movablecontact means, a lamp responsive to the voltage generated, anelectromagnet for actuating said contact means, and means including aphoto-electric cell arranged to receive light from said lamp forcontrolling the supply of energizing current to said electromagnet.

5. The combination with a variable speed generator having a fieldwinding, of a regulator for varying the ampere turns of the fieldwinding comprising means for varying the resistance of the fieldcircuit, an electromagnet for actuating said means, means for radiatingenergy at a rate which is dependent upon the voltage of the generator,and means influenced by the radiated energy for controlling theenergization of said electromagnet.

6. The combination with a variable speed generator having a fieldcircuit, of a regulator for varying the field excitation includingmovable contact means, an electromagnet for actuating said movablecontact means, a lamp arranged to receive energy from said generatorwhereby fluctuations in the voltage generated produce correspondingfluctuations in the intensity of the light emitted by -said lamp,thermionic valve means for varying the ampere turns of saidelectromagnet, and a photoelectric cell positioned to receive light fromsaid lamp for controlling said thermionic valve means.

7. The combination with a variable speed generator having a fieldcircuit, of a resist: ance adapted to be connected into said fieldcircuit, and regulating means for shortcircuiting said resistancecomprising movable contact means, an electromagnet for actuating saidmovable contact means, a lamp arranged to receive energy from saidgenerator whereby fluctuations in the voltage generated producecorresponding fluctua-- tions in the intensity of the light emitted bysaid lamp, thermionic valve means for varying the ampere turns of saidelectromagnet, and a photo-electric cell positioned to receive lightfrom said lamp for controlling said thermionic valve means. 4

8. The combination with a variable speed generator having a fieldcircuit. of a regulator for varying the field excitation includingmovable contact means, an electromagnet for actuating said movablecontact means, a lamp arranged to receive energy from said generator.whereby fluctuations in thevoltagegenerated produce correspondingfiuctuations in the intensity of the light emitted by said lamp,thermionic valve means, and

ing-a field winding, of a re a photo-electric cell having alight-sensitive electrode connected to the grid element of said valvemeans whereby changes in the state of char e of said electrode producedby changes in te intensity of the light emitted by said lamp vary theampere turns of said e ectromagnet.

9. The combination with a generator havulator for varying the ampereturns of the field winding comprising means for varying the resistanceof the field circuit, an electromagnet for actuating said means, lightemittin means arranged to receive energy from sai generator wherebyfluctuations in. the voltage generated produce correspondingfluctuations in the intensity of-the light emitted, thermionic valvemeans, and a photo-electric cell having a light sensitive electrodeconnected to the gridelement of said valve means whereb changes in thestate of charge of said electro e roduced by changes in the intensity ofthe lig t emitted vary the ampere turns of said electroma net.

10. The com ination with a. generator having a field winding, of lightemittin means arranged to receive energy from sai generator so that theintensity of light emitted varies substantially proportionately with theout ut of the generator, a photo-electric cell, 111K means for varyinthe excitation of the generator field inclu in thermionic valve meansfor amplifying t e effect produced upon said photo-electric cell by thechanges in light intensity. w

11. In combination, a generator, a regulator therefor, and meanscomprising a lamp operatively connected to the generator and a poto-electric cell arranged to receive energy from said lamp for varyingthe effects of the regulator.

In testimony-whereof, we hereunto afiix our signatures.

BENNETT M. LEECE. DALE S. COLE.

- DISCLAIMER 1,896,547.--Bennett M. Luce, Cleveland, and Dale S. Cole,Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Rnounu'mo MEANS. Patent dated February 7, 1933.Disclaimer filed July 6, 1936, by the assignee, Westinghouse Electn'x:cf: Manufacturing Company. Hereb enters this disclaimer to claimel, 4,7, 10, and 11 of the specification.

[ficial Gazette August 25, 1936]

